Portable anchor unit

ABSTRACT

In both forms, the generally cylindrical body of the anchor has a removable cap on one end, which, when fastened securely in place, seals a plurality of longitudinally extending bores in which are placed the unscrewed four pins serving as ground gripping legs for the anchor, all four pins being threaded at one end and provided with a diametrically extending hole in the other end to receive a smaller size pin to be used as a cross-bar in threading the larger pins one after another in four radial holes provided in the bottom end of the body at 90* intervals, the cross-pin when not in use being stored in a fifth hole provided in the body. In another form, a hollow cylindrical container is threaded for connection with the externally threaded reduced lower end of the body and is adapted to form a smooth extension of the body when in use and serves to house a coiled length of rope used for connecting the anchor to the boat, a snap fastener on one end of the rope attaching to the eye on the eyebolt that fastens the cap onto the body of the anchor, and the other snap fastener on the other end of the rope attaching to a suitable eye provided on the boat. In this latter form, the pins forming the legs thread into radial holes provided in the lower end of the container and hance they are adapted to serve in the tightening and loosening of the container.

[ PORTABLE ANCHOR UNIT Allen J. Leighty, 634 Rome Ave., Rockford, 111. 61107 [22] Filed: Jan. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 219,446

[76] Inventor:

[52] [1.8. CI 114/206 R [51] Int. CL... 1163b 21/30 [58] Field of Search 114/206, 207, 208; 145/62 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,722,190 ll/1955 Simshauser 114/207 3,023,723 3/1962 Tays 114/206 R 1,425,270 8/1922 Morganm. 145/62 1,647,396 ll/l927 Decker 145/62 2,701,539 2/1955 Morel 114/208 R 3,285,218 [1966 Gilbertson et a1. 114/207 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Galen L. Barefoot AttomeyAndrew F. Wintercom [57 ABSTRACT in both forms, the generally cylindrical body of the an- Aug. 28, 1973 chor has a removable cap on one end, which, when fastened securely in place, seals a plurality of longitudinally extending bores in which are placed the unscrewed four pins serving as ground gripping legs for the anchor, all four pins being threaded at one end and provided with a diametrically extending hole in the other end to receive a smaller size pin to be used as a cross-bar in threading the larger pins one after another in ;our radial holes provided in the bottom end of the body at 90 intervals, the cross-pin when not in use being stored in a fifth hole provided in the body. in another form, a hollow cylindrical container is threaded for connection with the externally threaded reduced lower end of the body and is adapted to form a smooth extension of the body when in use and serves to house a coiled length of rope used for connecting the anchor to the boat, a snap fastener on one end of the rope attaching to the eye on the eyebolt that fastens the cap onto the body of the anchor, and the other snap fastener on the other end of the rope attaching to a suitable eye provided on the boat. In this latter form, the pins forming the legs thread into radial holes provided in the lower end of the container and hance they are adapted to serve in the tightening and loosening of the container.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PORTABLE ANCHOR UNIT This invention relates to a portable anchor unit for boats and has for its object the provision of a small light weight unit in which all parts that have to be applied to the body of the anchor in assembling are conveniently stored in longitudinally extending bores, provided in the body when not in use.

I am aware that efforts have been made before to provide an easily assembled and disassembled anchor unit, but, so far as I am aware, none. of these efforts has been successful for one reason or another, but mainly because those constructions were too complicated and impractical besides being too expensive, and it is, therefore, the principal object of my invention to avoid those objections and make available a take-apart and put-together again portable anchor assembly of simpler construction, thoroughly practical, and at lower cost.

In one form, the cylindrical body has a cap secured on one end by an eye-bolt, sealing a plurality of longitudinally extending bores in which are placed the unscrewed four pins that serve as ground gripping legs for the anchor, all of these pins being threaded at one end and provided with a diametrically extending hole in the other end to receive-a smaller size pin used as a crossbar in threading the larger pins one after another in radial holes provided in the bottom end of the body at 90 intervals, this cross-pin when not in use being stored in a fifth hole provided in the body parallel to the other holes. This is the simpler and least expensive construction.

'In a second form, there is a hollow cylindrical container threaded for connection with the externally threaded reduced closed end of the body, adapted to form a smooth extension of the body when in use and serving to house a coiled length of rope used for connecting the anchor to the boat, a snap fastener-on one end of the rope attaching to the eye on the eye-bolt that fastens the cap onto the body of the anchor, and the other snap fastener on the other end of the rope attaching to a suitable eye provided on the boat. In this second form the pins that form the ground gripping legs thread into radial holes provided in the closed end of the container and hence also serve in the tightening and loosening of the container.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the portable anchor unit of my invention as it appears with the pins stored inside the body thereof beneath the sealing cap;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the anchor when assembled for use showing the cross-pin inserted in the hole in the outer end of one of the pins that form the ground gripping legs, this cross-pin facilitating the threading in and out of these larger pins, one leg of the anchor being broken off to conserve space;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modified form, all assembled and ready for use, the cross-pin in this instance being indicated in dot-and-dash lines extending from the hole in the outer end of one of the four legs, similarly as in FIG. 2, to help in threading the legs into the radial holes in the lower section of the anchor, which is the part that houses the coiled length of rope used for connecting the anchor to the boat, a snap fastener at one end'of the rope attaching to the eye on the eye-bolt that fastens the cap onto the body of the anchor, that is shown in FIG. 3, the snap fastener on the other end of the rope attaching to a suitable eye provided on the boat; v

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the disassembled parts of the structure of FIGS. 3 and 6;

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section on the broken line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cap applicable to the lower threaded end of the body interchangeably with the container for protection of the threads when the container isnt used.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating the simpler and more compact form, indicated generally by the reference numeral 7, this form has only the cylindrical metal body 8 and sealing cap 9 secured in place by eye-bolt 10 at 10 to compress a gasket ring 11 therebetween and 'thus seal the joint between the body 8 and cap 9, and thus retain for safekeeping four metal pins 12 that are adapted to serve as ground gripping legs for the anchor and are stored inside the body 8 in four longitudinally extending bores 13, similarly as the pins 12 in the closely similar body 8 of the second form 7', shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, along with another smaller diameter metal pin 14 dropped into a fifth bore 15 in the body parallel to the other bores 13 and of equal length but of smaller size. The pin 14 is adapted to be entered freely in a cross-hole 16 provided in the outer pointed end of each of the pins 12 to facilitate threading of the ends 17 in radial holes 18 provided at 90 intervals in the closed end of'the body 8. The bores I3 and 15 are large enough in relation to the pins 12 and 14, respectively, to facilitate entry and removal of the pins.

In operation, it should be evident that when all of the loose parts are put away in the body 8, shown in FIG. I, the anchor unit 7 can easily be stored for safekeeping in a fishermans tackle box, and yet, when the anchor unit is assembled, as seen in FIG. 2, the anchor is easily assembled and is a thoroughly practical and serviceable one to which one end of a rope may be attached at eye 19 before the anchor is thrown out of the boat into the water to anchor it in a selected location, the other end of the rope being, of course, secured to the boat in the usual way. The smaller pin 14, used as a cross-bar, can

either be put back in its bore 15 before the cap 9 is fastened in place or can be kept in the fisherman's pocket or tackle box until it is needed later in the loosening and unthreading of the pins 12 from the holes 18. The overall cost of this anchor should be low enough to make it available to the average fisherman. v

In the second form 7', the construction is the same except that the metal body 8' has the closed end' reduced and threaded, as shown at 20, for threading into the internally threaded open end 21 of a metal cylindrical container 22 that is preferably of the same outside diameter as the body 8' and when threaded thereon, as shown in FIG. 3, forms a smooth extension of the body 8', this container being large enough to house a suitable length of coiled rope 23 along with two snap fasteners provided in 90 spaced relationship, the same as in the first form described.

The operation of this form is substantially the same as the first form, except that here the pins 12 are adapted to help in the tightening of the threaded connection at -21 as well as in the loosening of this connection. Naturally, after the anchor unit has been used and the rope 23 with its two snap fasteners 24-25 has been coiled up and put back into the container 22, the container 22 will be threaded back onto the body 8' loosely enough to present no problem when it is necessary to unscrew it again later for another use of the anchor, as there is no danger of the container coming off the body 8' in ordinary handling and storage in the fishermans tackle box. The cost of this anchor, while of course, more than the other one, is still low enough to make it available to the average fisherman.

If desired, an additional set of radial threaded holes 18 may be provided in the closed end of the body 8', as indicated in dotted lines in FIGS. 3 and 4, so that in the event the fisherman decides he would like to use the anchor in the same way as that shown at 7 in FIGS.

l and 2, there is nothing to interfere with his doing so,

the container 22 in such event being, of course, left in the tackle box. The slight additional cost involved in the boring and threading of these four additional holes compared with the advantages gained thereby should make this a very welcome additional feature. A protective internally threaded cap 22 has the same threads 21' therein as the threads 21 in container 22, so this protective cap can be threaded onto the lower end 20 of the body 8 flush with the lower end of the body to protect the threads 20 against damage when the container 22 is not used. This cap will, of course, be left in the tackle box when the container 22 is used.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages. of

my invention. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, this is only for the purpose of illustration, and it is to be understood that various modifications in structure will occur to a person skilled in this art.

lclaim:

1. A boat anchor of the character described comprising an elongated generally cylindrical, solid, one-piece body having substantially radially extending threaded bores provided therein at one end in equally circumferentially spaced relation adapted to receive the threaded ends of a plurality of pins adapted to serve as ground gripping arms, said pins being all threaded at one end and removable from said bores and adapted to be stored in a plurality of holes provided in said body longitudinally thereof and in circumferencially spaced relation about the axis of said body, these holes being longer than said pins so as to leave exposed a flat end face on one end of said body, there being an additional hole provided in said body longitudinally thereof between two of the other holes but of smaller diameter in which is received a pin of smaller diameter than the first named pins and adapted to be entered in a transverse hole provided in each of said pins to be used as a wrench in the threading and unthreading of said pins, a cap for abutment with said end face sealing all of said holes with all of the pins therein, and an eye-bolt threaded in a longitudinally extending threaded bore provided in said body, said bolt extending through a center hole provided therefor in said cap, the eye on said bolt providing leverage means for tightening the bolt for tight sealing of the cap on the body as well as a place for connection of a rope for said anchor for attachment of the anchor by means of said rope to a boat.

2. A boat anchor of the character described comprising an elongated generally cylindrical, solid, one-piece body having four substantially radially extending threaded bores provided therein at one end in circumferentially spaced relation adapted to receive the threaded ends of four pins adapted to serve as ground gripping arms, said pins being removable from said bores and adapted to be stored in four holes provided in said body longitudinally thereof and in circumferencially spaced relation about the axis of said body, these holes being longer than said pins so as to leave exposed an end face on said body, said body having a fifth hole provided therein longitudinally thereof between two of the other holes, but of smaller diameter in which is received a pin of smaller diameter than the first named pins and adapted to be entered in a transverse hole provided in each of said pins to be used as a wrench in the threading and unthreading of said pins, an end plate fastenable to the last named end of said body by threaded means to seal the ends of the bores with all of the pins therein, and an eye rigid with said plate adapted to have a rope attached thereto for fastening the anchor in its assembled form to a boat.

3. A boat anchor of the character described comprising an elongated body having a plurality of pins adapted to serve as ground gripping arms, said pins being all threaded at one end arid adapted to be stored in a plurality of plain holes provided in said body longitudinally thereof and in circumferencially spaced relation about the axis of said body, these holes being longer than said pins so as to leave exposed an end face on said body, an end plate applicable to the latter end of said body to seal the ends of the holes with the pins therein, an eye rigid with said plate adapted to have a rope attached thereto for fastening the anchor in its assembled form to a boat, a generally cylinrical container open at one end and closed at the other end and attached at its open end to the closed end of said body, said container being adapted to contain a rope of a length suitable for attachment of the anchor to a boat, said container having in its closed end a plurality of radially extending threaded bores for threadedly connecting the threaded ends of the first mentioned pins to said container.

4. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 3 in which the body is also provided with a plurality of radially extending bores for interchangeable threaded connection of the first mentioned pins in said bores, whereby to permit use of the anchor with or without said container attached to the body.

5. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 3 wherein the pins have cross-holes provided therein intermediate the ends thereof, and an additional pin slidable in any one of said cross-holes in the other pins and adapted to serve as a cross-bar to assist in threading the first mentioned pins tightly in the radial bores in said body and unthreading the same therefrom.

6. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 4 wherein the pins have cross-holes provided therein intermediate the ends thereof, and an additional pin slidable in any one of said cross-holes in the other pins and adapted to serve as a cross-bar to assist in threading the first mentioned pins in the radial bores in said body or container and unthreading the same therefrom.

7. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 5 wherein there is an additional longitudinally extending bore provided in said body opening from said end face thereof adapted to house the last mentioned pin.

8. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 3 in which the body is also provided with a plurality of radially extending bores for interchangeable threaded connection of the first mentioned pins in said bores, whereby to permit use of the anchor with or without said container attached to the body, said body being threaded at one end for threaded connection with the container, and .a cap having internal threads for threaded connection with the threaded end of said body for protection of the threads when the container is not used.

9. A boat anchor of the character described comprising an elongated body having a plurality of pins adapted to serve as ground gripping arms, said pins being all threaded at one end and adapted to be stored in a plurality of plain holes provided in said body longiattached at its open end to the closed end of said body,

said container being adapted to contain a rope of a length suitable for attachment of the anchor to a boat, said container having in its closed end a plurality of radially extending threaded bores for threadedly connecting the threaded ends of the first mentioned pins to said container, and fasteners on opposite ends of the rope, one for connection with the eye of the eye-bolt and the other for connection with a similar eye on the boat. 

1. A boat anchor of the character described comprising an elongated generally cylindrical, solid, one-piece body having substantially radially extending threaded bores provided therein at one end in equally circumferentially spaced relation adapted to receive the threaded ends of a plurality of pins adapted to serve as ground gripping arms, said pins being all threaded at one end and removable from said bores and adapted to be stored in a plurality of holes provided in said body longitudinally thereof and in circumferencially spaced relation about the axis of said body, these holes being longer than said pins so as to leave exposed a flat end face on one end of said body, there being an additional hole provided in said body longitudinally thereof between two of the other holes but of smaller diameter in which is received a pin of smaller diameter than the first named pins and adapted to be entered in a transverse hole provideD in each of said pins to be used as a wrench in the threading and unthreading of said pins, a cap for abutment with said end face sealing all of said holes with all of the pins therein, and an eye-bolt threaded in a longitudinally extending threaded bore provided in said body, said bolt extending through a center hole provided therefor in said cap, the eye on said bolt providing leverage means for tightening the bolt for tight sealing of the cap on the body as well as a place for connection of a rope for said anchor for attachment of the anchor by means of said rope to a boat.
 2. A boat anchor of the character described comprising an elongated generally cylindrical, solid, one-piece body having four substantially radially extending threaded bores provided therein at one end in circumferentially spaced relation adapted to receive the threaded ends of four pins adapted to serve as ground gripping arms, said pins being removable from said bores and adapted to be stored in four holes provided in said body longitudinally thereof and in circumferencially spaced relation about the axis of said body, these holes being longer than said pins so as to leave exposed an end face on said body, said body having a fifth hole provided therein longitudinally thereof between two of the other holes, but of smaller diameter in which is received a pin of smaller diameter than the first named pins and adapted to be entered in a transverse hole provided in each of said pins to be used as a wrench in the threading and unthreading of said pins, an end plate fastenable to the last named end of said body by threaded means to seal the ends of the bores with all of the pins therein, and an eye rigid with said plate adapted to have a rope attached thereto for fastening the anchor in its assembled form to a boat.
 3. A boat anchor of the character described comprising an elongated body having a plurality of pins adapted to serve as ground gripping arms, said pins being all threaded at one end and adapted to be stored in a plurality of plain holes provided in said body longitudinally thereof and in circumferencially spaced relation about the axis of said body, these holes being longer than said pins so as to leave exposed an end face on said body, an end plate applicable to the latter end of said body to seal the ends of the holes with the pins therein, an eye rigid with said plate adapted to have a rope attached thereto for fastening the anchor in its assembled form to a boat, a generally cylinrical container open at one end and closed at the other end and attached at its open end to the closed end of said body, said container being adapted to contain a rope of a length suitable for attachment of the anchor to a boat, said container having in its closed end a plurality of radially extending threaded bores for threadedly connecting the threaded ends of the first mentioned pins to said container.
 4. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 3 in which the body is also provided with a plurality of radially extending bores for interchangeable threaded connection of the first mentioned pins in said bores, whereby to permit use of the anchor with or without said container attached to the body.
 5. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 3 wherein the pins have cross-holes provided therein intermediate the ends thereof, and an additional pin slidable in any one of said cross-holes in the other pins and adapted to serve as a cross-bar to assist in threading the first mentioned pins tightly in the radial bores in said body and unthreading the same therefrom.
 6. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 4 wherein the pins have cross-holes provided therein intermediate the ends thereof, and an additional pin slidable in any one of said cross-holes in the other pins and adapted to serve as a cross-bar to assist in threading the first mentioned pins in the radial bores in said body or container and unthreading the same therefrom.
 7. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 5 wherein there is an additional longitudinaLly extending bore provided in said body opening from said end face thereof adapted to house the last mentioned pin.
 8. A boat anchor as set forth in claim 3 in which the body is also provided with a plurality of radially extending bores for interchangeable threaded connection of the first mentioned pins in said bores, whereby to permit use of the anchor with or without said container attached to the body, said body being threaded at one end for threaded connection with the container, and a cap having internal threads for threaded connection with the threaded end of said body for protection of the threads when the container is not used.
 9. A boat anchor of the character described comprising an elongated body having a plurality of pins adapted to serve as ground gripping arms, said pins being all threaded at one end and adapted to be stored in a plurality of plain holes provided in said body longitudinally thereof and in circumferencially spaced relation about the axis of said body, these holes being longer than said pins so as to leave exposed an end face on said body, an end plate applicable to the latter end of said body to seal the ends of the holes with the pins therein, an eye rigid with said plate adapted to have a rope attached thereto for fastening the anchor in its assembled form to a boat, a generally cylindrical container open at one end and closed at the other end and attached at its open end to the closed end of said body, said container being adapted to contain a rope of a length suitable for attachment of the anchor to a boat, said container having in its closed end a plurality of radially extending threaded bores for threadedly connecting the threaded ends of the first mentioned pins to said container, and fasteners on opposite ends of the rope, one for connection with the eye of the eye-bolt and the other for connection with a similar eye on the boat. 